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Post by drakeissix on Jan 20, 2011 0:53:58 GMT -5
Like this episode a lot I got re watch it to decided on the final grade A or A- both stories were excellent the crime store and ducky's friend . Vance Hmmmm did anyone read that Rocky Carroll sign on to do a movie or a play (a la Joe Spano?) I have not read anywhere he was Leaving NCIS...... Hmmm will see.... It could be fun seen Gibbs as temporary director and Tony temp team leader  wow that could be fun. Both Tony and Gibbs would have to grow a bit . Hmmmm ? |
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Post by celestial on Jan 20, 2011 15:47:47 GMT -5
I really wasn't a fan of this episode. The big problem I had with the 'gay' storyline is that it wasn't actually central to the plot. It wasn't an episode about DADT, and I also never got the impression that the father had an issue with the son's orientation. (He did say his son had issues with authority, but I guess that doesn't matter.) Let's put the sexual orientation aside for a moment and say that it was a straight male recruiter and a female high school student. (And there was a big scandal here a few years back involving just that, so yes, it happens.) And the father is seeing a close relationship between the two (secretive emails, etc.) which goes WAY beyond what is appropriate for the scope of the naval recruiter's job. If the father killed the recruiter to protect his daughter from what he feared was happening, do you think Gibbs would have gone all Mister Judgeypants at the end? Heck no - in fact it's just as likely Gibbs would have let him go free. But - lest we accidentally think that the father has any redeeming qualities, don't forget that he's An Unemployed Alcoholic!!11! (Drinking after your wife dies = Not Okay. Cruising down to Mexico & murdering a Mexican drug dealer = Okay. Letting your ex-mother-in-law skate on an unrelated murder = Also Okay.) And the cutesy scene at the end (during the Very Special Montage  - I hate montages on this show) rang particularly false with me because I never got the impression that Paul was super gung ho for serving his country - his relationship with the recruiter was due to his being The Only One Who Understands. [Side note: are the TV writers telling us that the only ones who can understand a gay person are other gay people? Am I the only one who has a problem with this line of thinking?] Speaking of things that rang false... the scene in MTAC with Bob Newhart, while cutesy, was also totally token. McGee and Co. may feel good about themselves for their grand magnanimous gesture, but at the end of the day it changes nothing. Dr. Magnus has Alzheimer's, and it will keep getting worse, and there is no cure. And if I seem like I'm callous about the Alzheimer's storyline, it's because we literally did not know Walter Magnus from Adam. At least when they killed Pacci in Season 1, the writers had the foresight to introduce him as a character beforehand. Gibbs' line to the cheated-on wife "You've got a lot of hate in you" made me barf. We've seen before on this show how differently Gibbs treats cheating wives vs. cheating husbands, but this was over the top misogyny. Yes, she must be a terrible, terrible person for not being thrilled about the fact that her husband cheated on her with another man.This episode also highlighted why I am not a fan of stunt casting on procedurals: was there ever a moment when Bob Newhart was onscreen when you were not thinking, "Hey! That's Bob Newhart!" I mean, I never even watched any of his shows (too young  ) and it completely ruined the effect for me. One more thing and then I will climb down off my cranky soapbox. I wanted to slap Gibbs when he was condescending to the dad with his "Well if it was MY son I would blah blah blah." It's easy to be the perfect parent when your only child has been dead for darn near twenty years.  I am going to heck. |
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Post by pbb on Jan 20, 2011 17:23:11 GMT -5
The big problem I had with the 'gay' storyline is that it wasn't actually central to the plot. It wasn't an episode about DADT, and I also never got the impression that the father had an issue with the son's orientation. I really think his dad had an issue with his son being gay in the navy, and not with being gay. So I think DADT did come in somewhere. But - lest we accidentally think that the father has any redeeming qualities, don't forget that he's An Unemployed Alcoholic!!11! (Drinking after your wife dies = Not Okay. Cruising down to Mexico & murdering a Mexican drug dealer = Okay. Letting your ex-mother-in-law skate on an unrelated murder = Also Okay.) I'll drink to that, I totally agree.  Don't, there's no need to... nice to read a comment, any comment on the show... Normally I come here to find out what I missed in an episode and to read how someone else saw the same thing in a completely different way. So I'm happy to read what anyone of you has to say, whether I agree or not.  |
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Post by jst1986 on Jan 20, 2011 18:45:27 GMT -5
I am not sure if Gibbs ever found out about Tony's Rota orders, but when Vance asked Gibbs "Did you sign anything READ anything in my absence?"..... I thought maybe now Gibbs knows that Tony turned down the orders.
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Post by Lelu on Jan 20, 2011 20:14:07 GMT -5
I really wasn't a fan of this episode. The big problem I had with the 'gay' storyline is that it wasn't actually central to the plot. It wasn't an episode about DADT, and I also never got the impression that the father had an issue with the son's orientation. (He did say his son had issues with authority, but I guess that doesn't matter.) Let's put the sexual orientation aside for a moment and say that it was a straight male recruiter and a female high school student. (And there was a big scandal here a few years back involving just that, so yes, it happens.) And the father is seeing a close relationship between the two (secretive emails, etc.) which goes WAY beyond what is appropriate for the scope of the naval recruiter's job. If the father killed the recruiter to protect his daughter from what he feared was happening, do you think Gibbs would have gone all Mister Judgeypants at the end? Heck no - in fact it's just as likely Gibbs would have let him go free. But - lest we accidentally think that the father has any redeeming qualities, don't forget that he's An Unemployed Alcoholic!!11! (Drinking after your wife dies = Not Okay. Cruising down to Mexico & murdering a Mexican drug dealer = Okay. Letting your ex-mother-in-law skate on an unrelated murder = Also Okay.) And the cutesy scene at the end (during the Very Special Montage - I hate montages on this show) rang particularly false with me because I never got the impression that Paul was super gung ho for serving his country - his relationship with the recruiter was due to his being The Only One Who Understands. [Side note: are the TV writers telling us that the only ones who can understand a gay person are other gay people? Am I the only one who has a problem with this line of thinking?] Speaking of things that rang false... the scene in MTAC with Bob Newhart, while cutesy, was also totally token. McGee and Co. may feel good about themselves for their grand magnanimous gesture, but at the end of the day it changes nothing. Dr. Magnus has Alzheimer's, and it will keep getting worse, and there is no cure. And if I seem like I'm callous about the Alzheimer's storyline, it's because we literally did not know Walter Magnus from Adam. At least when they killed Pacci in Season 1, the writers had the foresight to introduce him as a character beforehand. Gibbs' line to the cheated-on wife "You've got a lot of hate in you" made me barf. We've seen before on this show how differently Gibbs treats cheating wives vs. cheating husbands, but this was over the top misogyny. Yes, she must be a terrible, terrible person for not being thrilled about the fact that her husband cheated on her with another man.This episode also highlighted why I am not a fan of stunt casting on procedurals: was there ever a moment when Bob Newhart was onscreen when you were not thinking, "Hey! That's Bob Newhart!" I mean, I never even watched any of his shows (too young ) and it completely ruined the effect for me. One more thing and then I will climb down off my cranky soapbox. I wanted to slap Gibbs when he was condescending to the dad with his "Well if it was MY son I would blah blah blah." It's easy to be the perfect parent when your only child has been dead for darn near twenty years. I am going to heck.Wow well said and almost my feelings totally. I hate stunt casting. I rarely comment anymore because I'm a cranky b.... and am too negative. We're all shiny happy people |
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Post by drakeissix on Jan 21, 2011 0:48:40 GMT -5
Seriously Cesetial and Lelu why do you guys watch NCIS if you hate it as much as you guys seem too? Its a great mystery to me? You both abjectly hate Gibbs and he is the central character of the show so why watch? I am seriously baffled ? I felt this way towards LOST , gave it up and I had so much less stress and spent that hour of the week view something I really enjoyed. Oh well |
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Post by Lelu on Jan 23, 2011 14:04:37 GMT -5
Seriously Cesetial and Lelu why do you guys watch NCIS if you hate it as much as you guys seem too? Its a great mystery to me? You both abjectly hate Gibbs and he is the central character of the show so why watch? I am seriously baffled ? I felt this way towards LOST , gave it up and I had so much less stress and spent that hour of the week view something I really enjoyed. Oh well This is pretty much the reason I don't comment anymore. Anyone with a serious negative criticism gets attacked for not absolutely adoring the show. I don't hate the show, I just refuse to fawn uncritically. We all watch for our own reasons. |
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Post by Lelu on Jan 23, 2011 14:10:51 GMT -5
I rarely post here anymore, or log in even. Lots of reasons, I suppose, but I had to comment on this episode. I absolutely loved it. Loved it and place it high enough to be listed with Call of Silence as one of my favorite episodes. There's stunt casting, i.e. hiring Justin Bieber to get the tween audience, and casting a television icon and putting him in a role outside his normal familiar character. At first it seemed like the same old Bob Newhart, but then that trademark stammer and puzzled look became deeper, more distracted, more zoned-out and confused. I felt it was a wonderful performance and was quite moving. David's reactions, frustration at not knowing where Magnus had gone; concern at his state of mind; and finally, sadness but determination to help, was played beautifully. I thought the DADT theme was also well-done and subtle. It could have been a disaster, and I was so afraid they'd have Tony make some homophobic comment (remembering when they made him seem a little xenophobic in the one episode about "soul mates" that I rarely, if ever, rewatch). The sight (and sound) of Gibbs and Tony singing Wheels on the Bus was so wonderful. I love that. I won't go on, mainly because I keep getting interrupted and have to log off, but suffice it to say, I loved this episode. Edited (eating lunch now, so I have time): For me, another perfect example of stunt casting would be if they hired Robert Vaughn, which is why I always cringe when people suggest it. Tweeter, I was okay with the character until they had to throw in the telephone comedy routine he's done for years. At that point the character lost relevance. He became Bob Newhart. |
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Post by Aerie on Jan 24, 2011 1:39:08 GMT -5
There's a difference between criticism and negativity. I haven't seen negativity here for quite awhile. I enjoy reading comments about the episodes and the discussions haven't been heated. If they become unbearable - I am here - as The Mean Mod - to douse the flames. Recruited was a fair episode and had a few little gems. I've never seen Bob Newhart before and my only thought was - what was going on with the dark circles under his eyes. Where were the makeup people? Dang - that looked bad. |
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Post by drakeissix on Jan 24, 2011 4:12:38 GMT -5
Yeah I did not like the telephone gag either it wasn't done well. But honestly I still think your comments on Gibbs being different in this episode is off. I think Gibb would have been as hard if was a husband who hired someone to beat up his wife gay lover clearly she was repulsed by her husband be gay and not so much that he cheat on her . Clearly the father with gay son was out of his depth , out of work with a drinking problem Gibbs had some sympathy but it ended when the father became a killer. BTW I though the biggest failure NCIS had with stunt casting was using Gena Rowlands she clearly was very ill , was obviously had a hard time remembering or saying her lines and the story was one of weakest episodes of the whole series and a great example of stunt casting going bad. I'm just glad Magnus character didn't gun himself like the character Bob Newhart played on ER as a retired doctor going blind and he gunned himself on was it thanksgiving or Christmas eve I forget now. which I though was a gasty end . There isn't going to be a happy end with Alzheimer's all you can really do is make sure the patient is comfortable and happy. With the visual record of his pasted accomplishment (which could help stimulate past memories of success ) help feel his live did have meaning . Sorry but it was a very nice act of kindness that works in the real world of many sufferers of Alzheimer's. This was a very good episode. |
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Post by Lelu on Jan 24, 2011 14:52:00 GMT -5
Tweeter, I was okay with the character until they had to throw in the telephone comedy routine he's done for years. At that point the character lost relevance. He became Bob Newhart. I agree to a point. I heard that Mark suggested they put a phone thing in and BN said to wait and see if it would be more organic (or something like that). I think that it was only jarring to people that are familiar with his early career and his "trademark" routine. Just like casting Robert Wagner would have been stunt casting, but since I don't know if many people know MW played RW in a biopic (even RW didn't know), it squeezes out of that category for me. I didn't think that RW was a stunt cast. I would have preferred another actor just because I'm not a big fan of RW never have been. The only thing I ever really liked him in was It Takes a Thief, which was okay and then there was Switch which was another version ITAT and a complete ripoff of a wonderful show called the Rogues. As far as Bob Newhart, I agree people who are not familiar with his comedic style could could completely buy into the character. Even though I never really watched his show the general befuddlement of his character just rolled over into this role on NCIS. |
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Post by Sean'sGirl on Jan 24, 2011 17:45:36 GMT -5
See, I don't know Bob Newhart from Adam so all that stuff you guys picked up on was completely lost to me. I thought from the start that his stuttering and befuddledness would lead to something like Alzheimers. I had no clue that it was similar to what he had done in the past.
RJ to me is the perfect casting for Tony's dad. They work off each other fantastically and the resemblance is credible as well.
I object to calling every instance of bringing in a well-known actor/actress as stunt casting. I mean, what are those people supposed to do—never play another role? If the casting is done because the actor would work great as that character (as is the case with RJ and DiNozzo Sr IMO) it's just good casting. If the name of the actor is all that matters and they can't pull off the character that's BS of course.
I couldn't get into this episode really, don't know why. I'll have to rewatch it later and see if I just wasn't in a good mood or if it is the episode. It certainly isn't one of my favorites though.
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Post by Lelu on Jan 24, 2011 18:18:27 GMT -5
See, I don't know Bob Newhart from Adam so all that stuff you guys picked up on was completely lost to me. I thought from the start that his stuttering and befuddledness would lead to something like Alzheimers. I had no clue that it was similar to what he had done in the past. RJ to me is the perfect casting for Tony's dad. They work off each other fantastically and the resemblance is credible as well. I object to calling every instance of bringing in a well-known actor/actress as stunt casting. I mean, what are those people supposed to do—never play another role? If the casting is done because the actor would work great as that character (as is the case with RJ and DiNozzo Sr IMO) it's just good casting. If the name of the actor is all that matters and they can't pull off the character that's BS of course. I couldn't get into this episode really, don't know why. I'll have to rewatch it later and see if I just wasn't in a good mood or if it is the episode. It certainly isn't one of my favorites though. Well I don't think that every instance of a well know actor being cast is stunt casting. Charles Durning is a very well know actor and his casting as Ernie Yost was anything but stunt casting. Stunt casting to me is a well known actor being cast and playing to type which was Bob Newhart in this role to me. I agree SG the way the character was presented led to the eventual denouement. The end was like a "very special after school presentation" Robert Wagner I just have never liked, he has a smarmy unctuous type of (?charm?) that makes me feel slimy. He was fine as the elder Di'Nozzo which I guess is appropriate as he was both smarmy and slimy. Con man to the max, which is playing to type so maybe it is stunt casting, LOL I don't know |
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Post by drakeissix on Jan 25, 2011 2:16:33 GMT -5
Yes Call of Silence is one of my top 10 all time favorite episodes of NCIS During was brilliant a as Erine Yost it was sweet , sad and profound without being schmaltzy and stuck home personally because my moms brother was a eighteen year old Marine when he was killed on Iwo Jima. Honestly if you found Tony's dad creepy or repulsive RJ did a good job acting in my book. Tony's dad a professional leach better know in today's Hollywood a Star F%cker aka a Kato Kaylin . Yes Tony dad lived the life of a con man , leach and a master manipulator of people .Tony has found away to take some of his dad most negative character flaws and use them to become a great investigator and skillful integrator (I can not remember tony lift a finger against a suspect in the "interview room") Tony uses the skills his dad used to bilk wealthy fools of money (or g5 flights) bluff , bluster , complements , ego stroking , pandering etc... to get information from suspects , wittiness, and is a brilliant interrogator using skills tony learned from his dad . Bob Newhart's guest star spot was good blame the writers who sometimes are too smarmy for their own good .
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Post by stingrayfan on Jan 25, 2011 7:39:00 GMT -5
I actually liked this episode. Some of the episodes lately haven't even got my attention off the computer. I liked the interaction between Gibbs and the father. I was familiar with Newhart's name before but had never seen him. I enjoyed him and loved the end. We have a friend who has alzheimers and she loves to look at old pictures. She asks the same questions everytime we show her but its a nice way to spend time with her. I hope it makes her feel better. I thought this episode was well written but I would have like to see more on the DADT story line. Maybe more in depth.
Did anyone else see on ET where Newhart said NCIS used to be his wife's favorite show and he had to watch it whether he liked it or not. LOL I thought that was cute
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wow that could be fun. Both Tony and Gibbs would have to grow a bit . Hmmmm ? 
- I hate montages on this show) rang particularly false with me because I never got the impression that Paul was super gung ho for serving his country - his relationship with the recruiter was due to his being The Only One Who Understands. [Side note: are the TV writers telling us that the only ones who can understand a gay person are other gay people? Am I the only one who has a problem with this line of thinking?] 
) and it completely ruined the effect for me.
Don't, there's no need to... nice to read a comment, any comment on the show... Normally I come here to find out what I missed in an episode and to read how someone else saw the same thing in a completely different way. So I'm happy to read what anyone of you has to say, whether I agree or not. 
